The day in tech.

Google DeepMind has launched Gemini 3.8 Live and Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking, its most advanced live dialogue models. The models feature upgrades in intelligence and parallel reasoning for natural voice interactions, handling complex reasoning, real-time visual context, and background tasks. They are available via the Gemini API, Google Workspace, and the Gemini app.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told a Salesforce conference the world is right to fear AI's power, citing the Hugging Face hack as a terrifying incident, but expressed confidence in responsible development.

Canon unveiled the EOS R8 II, its lightest full-frame camera with 5-axis stabilization, on September 16, 2026. It features a retro design, shoots at 40 fps, and starts at $1,899 for pre-orders shipping in late October.

South Korean universities offer company-linked contract departments with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, providing financial support and job pathways. Applications for the 2026 cycle rose 6.5% for Samsung and 12.7% for SK Hynix programs.

AI coding startup Factory raised $200 million in funding, tripling its valuation to $5 billion from $1.5 billion five months ago. The round was backed by Blackstone, Khosla Ventures, Sequoia Capital, and Insight Partners.

The U.S. Senate voted 50-49 to block the Clarity Act, a bill to establish a comprehensive market structure framework for cryptocurrency. The procedural vote fell short of the 60 votes needed, stalling the legislation.

The UK Advertising Standards Authority banned five social media ads for AI apps, including those from Animcha Ltd and Nexaipic, for promoting sexually explicit content and objectifying women. The regulator used its AI monitoring system to identify the ads on Meta platforms.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang rejected proposals for AI companies to receive antitrust exemptions to coordinate slowing advanced model development. He argued AI safety is an engineering problem solvable through testing, not new laws or regulations.

A sharp sell-off in Indian equities on Tuesday, triggered by crude oil prices surging above $100 a barrel and US bond yields climbing above 5%, pushed the BSE's combined market value below $5 trillion to a three-month low.

The six-month U.S. war against Iran has cost $38 billion through August 1, with expenses projected to rise by $3 billion monthly, the Congressional Budget Office said. The conflict has depleted munitions stockpiles, raised energy prices and could increase inflation by 0.5% in early 2027.